Question

A rocket near the surface of the earth is accelerating vertically upward at 10 m/s2. The rocket releases an instrument package. Immediately after release the acceleration of the instrument package is:a)20 m/s2 up

b)10 m/s2 up
c) 0
d)10 m/s2 down
e) 20 m/s2 down

Answer 1

d) 10
`ms^(-2)` down

Step-by-step explanation:

The instrument package is acting vertically downwards while the rocket is accelerating vertically upwards.

According to Newton's third law of motion, "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction". As the Rocket acts upwards, there is an equal and opposite force acting on it to push it downwards and as such, this force (which is equal in magnitude) is responsible for the instrument package's acceleration immediately it is released from the rocket.